The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has acted ‘undemocratically' in proposing to reduce its wards, according to the majority of the 97 submissions on the plan.

Seventy-eight per cent of submissions call for retention of the status quo of 12 councillors and five wards, as opposed to three wards and 11 councillors. Those objectors also claim council has acted `undemocratically' in proposing the changes.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayor Ross Paterson slices up the Western Bay ward pie.

Under the requirements of the Local Electoral Act, Council must review its political representation every six years in order to ensure fair and effective representation.

The Act requires that every councillor should represent a similar number of people but in the Western Bay, under the current system, this ratio was out of kilter.

To correct this, council is proposing the district be split into three wards – Western (Waihi Beach, Katikati and Matakana Island), Central (Kaimai, Omokoroa, Te Puna) and Eastern (Te Puke and Maketu).

The strongest and most numerous objections came from Waihi Beach and Maketu, with both community boards as well as individuals appealing.

The community boards says Maketu and Waihi Beach wards pay higher rates in comparison to other wards and believe that not having their own councillor or ward does not reflect their rates contribution and would be ‘rating without representation'.

Both boards support greater delegations to community boards to address local issues and say retaining community boards goes against the statement that reducing wards would reduce parochialism.

The Maketu objections included 35 on a standard objection form, one signed by people representing a trust and one signed by 17 individuals.

Opposing the merging of Maketu and Te Puke wards is the main focus of the Maketu objections, which also call for Te Puke councillor numbers to be reduced by one. Objectors also believe the proposed new ward would not reflect the urban/rural mix of Maketu.

Waihi Beach ratepayers and community board are concerned the changes would reduce the chance that a Waihi Beach resident would be elected as a councillor as Waihi Beach voters would make up a minority of residents in the Western ward.

Some of the objectors, including the community board, have proposed incorporating Tanners Point, Ongare Point and Kauri Point areas in a new Waihi Beach ward rather than merge with Katikati to ensure the interests of Katikati residents would not over-ride those of Waihi Beach residents.

Other objectors say merging wards does not allow for effective local decision making and the fair representation principle has dominated over effective representation.

Maketu and Waihi Beach have been identified as distinct communities that justify their own wards, and this has not changed, stated other objectors.

Local councillors are more approachable for residents and rates should be more targeted to minimise rates from one ward subsidising other wards other objectors say.

Concerns were also raised that because a 2011 Census was called off following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and one won't be held until next year, population estimates, and not actual numbers, are used to inform the representation review.

Objections and submissions closed on Monday, October 8 and now all submission and objections, including council's own proposals, will be forwarded to the Local Government Commission which is likely to hold hearings before making its final decision by April 2013. That decision will form the basis for council elections in October next year.